CO&XECTJON 

OF 

NORTH     CAROIIN1ANA 


P^;-. 


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THE 


AMERICAN 


WBWB8QNNP 


BY 


A  CLODHOPPER 


01 


NORTH  CAROLINA. 


PHILADELPHIA  , 
PRINTED    FOR   THE    AUTHOR, 

1825. 


y 


THB 


IT  is  now  about  fifteen  years  since  the  Mission- 
ary cause  was  introduced  into  North  Carolina,  with 
great  show  of  zeal,  and  love  for  the  poor  Indians  oti 
our  continent.  Their  deplorable  condition  was  de- 
picted in  the  most  lively  colours,  and  with  all  that 
sympathy  and  apparent  feeling  for  their  poor  lost 
souls,  calculated  to  soften  a  heart  of  stone,  and 
awaken  in  the  coldest-hearted  christian,  the  most 
earnest  emotions  for  their  salvation.  But  there  was 
something  then,  and  ever  has  been,  that  I  dreaded 
as  a  viper  full  of  deadly  poison.  Although  it  was 
glossed  over  with  the  love  of  souls  ;  the  worth  of 
souls;  starving  souls  for  want  of  knowledge,  &c.&c. 
with  all  the  embellishments  of  fine  language,  and 
great  talents  in  teaching ;  added  to  which,  were 
many  tears,  much  show  of  feeling,  and  semblance  of 
christian  sincerity  ;  yet  I  could  not  help  being  filled 
with  a  jealousy,  that  there  was  death  in  the  pot. — 
And  I  have  stood  as  an  opposer  and  observer  ever 
since,  and  now  offer  the  public  a  few  thoughts,  and 
hazard  some  conjectures,  on  the  future  consequences 
of  the  Missionary  and  other  societies,  abounding  in 
our  land  of  freedom. 

In  the  first  place,  several  associated  bodies  pro- 
ceeded to  appoint  delegates  ;  say,  four  or  five  from 
each  of  their  respective  bodies,  to  form  a  convention 
or  Missionary  board,  to  lay  a  plan  for  the  conversion 
'  of  the  heathen;  (for  no  man  could  be  found  among 
all  the  seeming  feeling  ones  for  poor  Indian  souls, 
that  would  comply  with  the  command  of  Christ:  to 
take  neither  gold,  nor  silver,  nor  scrip  ;  neither  two 
eoats  ;  and  go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gos- 

NO 


?»el  to  every  creature,  without  money  or  price.) — 
These  delegated  divines,  therefore,  met  together  at 
,  to  hold  the  mighty  council,  to  form  the  benevo- 
lent plan  of  converting  the  Indians,  quickly.  And 
what  is  the  result  of  their  deliberations  on  so  impor- 
tant a  subject?  Why,  money!  money!  Let  (he 
people  give  us  of  their  money,  and  the  mighty  work 
can  be  done.  What  ?  men  do  the  work  with  money, 
which  none  but  God  can  do  by  his  grace  and  spirit ! 
Folly  indeed — but  the  plan  was  drawn,  and  this  is 
as  near  the  spirit  and  principle  of  it,  as  I  am  able  to 
describe — 

First :  We  must  take  all  possible  care  to  make  the 
case  of  the  Indians  as  bad  as  we  can.  Secondly: 
We  must  show  with  great  zeal,  how  much  our  hearts 
feel,  by  affectation  only,  since  we  are  not  willing  to 
s;o  ourselves  j  and  if  need  should  so  require  to  get  a 
Mttle  more  money,  we  must  shed  some  tears  before 
our  congregations.  Thirdly:  Our  Missionary  texts 
must  be  well  chosen  and  pathetically  handled,  to  ex- 
cite the  sympathy  of  our  hearers,  and  open  their 
hearts  to  the  Indians;  and  then  while  they  are  in 
that  soft  state,  let  a  collection  be  made,  and  we  shall 
draw  plentifully  from  their  pockets.  Fourthly  :  Let 
various  societies  be  formed,  to  take  in  members  at 
one  or  two  dollars  a  year,  for  membership ;  and 
have  so  much  at  one  time  to  constitute  one  a  member 
or  a  director  for  life,  and  this  will  greatly  contribute 
to  our  getting  money.  Fifthly  :  Let  us  create  titles, 
such  as  presidents,  vice-presidents,  corresponding 
necretaries,  and  treasurers,  in  these  new  societies, 
with  boards  of  directors,  and  other  unheard  of  titles 
of  honour  in  the  New  Testament  ;  and  this  will  be 
a  good  bait;  since  men  delight  to  be  honoured,  and 
[save  their  names  carried  abroad,  and  no  doubt  cause 
many  to  do  much  in  aiding  our  schemes  of  getting 
money.  Sixthly:  Let  travelling  beggars  be  appoint- 
ed, crying  wherever  they-  go — give!  give  us  of 
your  money  to  convert  the  heathen.  How  unlike  the 
prophets,  John  the  Baptist,  Jesus  Christ,  the  apos- 


5 

ties,  a  Luther,  a  George  Whitfield,  a  Wesley,  a 
Dow,  and  a  thousand  others,  who  are  ornaments  to 
the  free  gospel  of  Christ ;  all  impressed  with  the 
worth  of  souls ;  and  who  go  forth  taking  up  their 
cross,  denying  themselves,  and  devoting  themselves 
to  the  work  of  God,  for  the  good  of  men  :  dependant 
on  God,  without  hegging  or  being  shamefully  backed 
by  monied  societies. 

By  hard  squeezing,  somewhere  about  seven  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  was  collected,  and  deposited 
with  Mr.  Treasurer,  until  further  orders  from  this 
board  of  wise  divines,  and  set  of  new  schemers  in 
gospel  theory.  They  met,  and  met  again,  from  year 
to  year,  to  re-organize  their  plan  of  money  getting. 
Some  years  after,  out  comes  a  shameful  Circular 
from  this  wise  board,  (when  they  had  found  out. they 
were  but  men,)  that  if  any  man  that  had  given, 
wanted  his  money  back,  be  could  have  it,  by  apply^ 
ing;  but  that  they  were  persuaded  better  things  of 
of  them  that  had  given ;  (a  proof  of  their  vanity  and 
folly ;  for  they  now  plead  the  hostility  of  the  In- 
dians, and  want  of  proper  persons  to  teach  school, 
&c.  &c.)  Soon  the  great  and  mighty  institutions  of 
foreign  and  domestic  missions,  with  bible  societies 
and  theological  seminaries,  were  circulated,  with 
all  the  high  encomiums  that  the  English  language 
could  furnish  ;  and  into  them,  they  and  their  per- 
verted funds  began  to  fall.  Now,  in  this  mighty 
field  to  do  wonders,  in  sending  the  gospel  to  the 
destitute  at  home  and  abroad,  to  work  this  wise 
board  of  directors  go,  with  redoubled  ardour,  setting 
the  wisdom  of  all  their  heads  to  work,  to  invent  new 
plans  of  getting  more  money — and  how  they  may, 
by  the  by,  handle  a  little  of  the  precious  stuff  them- 
selves, I  shall  here  notice,  as  the  people  seem  to 
bleed  pretty  freely. 

And  so,  Seventhly :  While  in  council  they  make  a 
bargain,  you  comb  my  head,  and  I  will  scratch  your 
back  ; — you  confer  on  me  the  honourable  title  of  gos- 
pel beggar  or  missionary  hireling,  at  one  dollar  and 

A  2 


6 

twenty-five  cents  #er  da)',  or  forty  dollars  per 
month,  if  you  think  I  have  a  good  talent  for  begging; 
or  I  will  beg  for  you,  if  you  will  pay  me  for  my  ser- 
vices ;  or  I  will  play  into  your  hands,  if  you  will 
play  into  mine — share  the  profits.  Cheat  and  fleece 
the  people  out  of  their  hard  earnings,  upon  condi- 
tion you  will  let  me  beg  in  the  name  of  your  honour- 
able society ;  for  I  am  ashamed  to  beg  for  myself, 
lest  the  people  raise  the  hue  and  cry — money  hunter, 
&c. 

What  abominable  hypocrisy  !  If  the  cause  es- 
poused be  holy,  just,  virtuous  and  honourable,  why 
not  come  openly  out  to  the  world,  and  tell  the  con- 
gregations that  you  have  been  hired  by  the  board 
of  domestic  or  foreign  missions,  for  one  dollar  and 
twenty  five  cents  per  day,  to  beg  for  them  ;  and  that 
the  beggar  and  the  board  are  to  divide  the  money, 
and  all  over  wages  is  to  be  saved  for  other  hirelings, 
doctors,  and  reverends ;  then  congregations  would 
know  how  to  act,  and  such  characters  act  more 
worthy  the  Christian  minister  and  honest  man. 

Eighthly:  The  sound  destitute,  destitute,  desti- 
tute places  of  the  gospel,  must  re-echo  in  all  our 
churches,  to  work  upon  our  hearers  to  get  more  mo- 
ney in  our  exhausting  coffers,  and  keep  our  fingers 
greased;  for  who  can  go  without  a  fine  coat  and 
plenty  of  money  !  And  where  have  domestic  mis- 
sionaries gone  ?  Have  they  gone  to  the  most  desti- 
tute parts  of  North  Carolina,  and  other  places  ? 
No.  Believe  me — these  hirelings  like  to  be  fed  on 
better  fare  than  the  poor  can  give  them — they  like 
the  houses  of  colonels,  squires,  and  to  have  very 
rich  and  fat  tables  and  stables,  where  their  horses 
will  be  well  provided  for;  and  to  ride  good  roads  : 
in  short,  the  main  point  is  to  go  about  towns,  and 
to  the  richest  churches  and  neighbourhoods,  where 
the  most  money  is  to  be  begged  : — and  their  conduct 
proves  it,  with  all  their  pretence  of  the  love  of  souls. 
1  wish,  indeed,  that  money  may  not  make  the 
preacher  go,  as  well  as  the  mare. 


These  beggars  keep  a  mighty  cry  about  the  des- 
titute. Why  not  go  to  them,  if  their  hearts  are  so  af- 
fected about  their  condition,  and  then  we  shall  have 
cause  to  say,  souls,  and  not  money,  is  their  object. 
But  they  tell  us,  money  is  wanting  ;  and  when  they 
have  begged  enough,  then  they  are  going  to  send 
preachers  to  the  destitute.  How  much  will  be 
enough  ?  They  have  had  their  thousands,  and  I  do 
not  yet  see  that  the  destitute  places  in  Nortli  Caro- 
lina are  a  whit  the  better  supplied;  and  I  doubt 
whether  they  would  be,  if  the  benevolent  public 
were  to  give  thousands  more.  The  beggars,  in  all 
probability,  would  still  get  the  greatest  part,  for 
riding  where  they  could  sell,  what  they  call  gospel, 
to  the  highest  bidder,  and  find  the  most  money. — 
The  conduct  of  some,  in  several  instances,  has  pro- 
ved the  fact,  that  money  was  the  main  object.  For 
as  soon  as  they  had  got  that,  they  have  bid  the 
churches  farewell,  and  gone  to  see  where  they  could 
find  more. 

But  who  are  they  going  to  send,  when  they  get 
money  enough  ?  Why,  say  they,  «  men  of  God." 
That  is  a  mistake ;  God's  ministers  are  not  hire- 
lings; they  do  not  divine  for  money,  like  Balaam, 
nor  run  up  and  down  the  country,  hired,  this  way 
and  that  way,  as  the  current  of  gain  shifts.  Nor 
are  they  anxious,  like  Judas,  to  have  the  bag,  and 
receive  their  thirty  pieces  of  silver.  In  this  text, 
we  see  the  character  of  a  minister  of  God  :  "  Feed 
the  flock  of  God,  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  has 
made  you  overseers;  taking  the  oversight  thereof 
willingly,  and  of  a  ready  mind,  and  not  for  filthy 
lucre's  sake."  But  if  they  send  ministers  at  all  to 
the  destitute,  they  will  send  hirelings,  Judases  or 
Balaam's.  For  if  they  will  not  go  for  the  love  of 
God  and  the  good  of  souls,  but  you  must  give  them 
money  to  make  them  move,  I  contend,  that  money  is 
the  main-spring  of  action — the  great  wheel  that  gives 
motion  to  their  going.  The  sake,  is  filthy  lucre  or 
money,  since  no  sake  could  move  them  but  money 


8 

sake.  Furnish  money,  and  what  crowds  are  moving 
in  every  direction,  hunting  money,  fortunes,  and 
places  of  profit.  Stop  the  money,  and  you  would  see 
a  squandering  among  these  Judases  at  once.  But, 
you  would  see  God's  ministers,  like  regular  stars, 
moving  each  one  in  his  own  sphere,  with  his  work 
before  him,  feeding  the  iiock  with  life,  enduring  po- 
verty and  every  thing  else,  if  need  be,  for  the  cause 
of  God,  and  the  souls  of  men. — In  a  word,  like  the 
prophets  and  apostles,  stemming  every  opposition  ; 
and  counting  every  thing  but  loss,  so  that  they  can 
win  souls  to  Christ. 

The  true  ministers  of  Christ  are  always  more 
ready  to  give,  than  receive.  But  the  men  sent  out 
by  missionary  boards,  in  this  day,  will  be  only  a 
curse,  instead  of  a  blessing,  to  God's  Israel.  Their 
discourses,  generally,  are  without  life  or  substance, 
and  are  a  burthen  to  the  godly.  And  they  squint 
an  eye  to  a  purse,  with  as  much  intenseness  as  ever 
Eve  did  at  the  forbidden  fruit. 

Some  great  writer  has  said,  this  is  an  age  of  won- 
ders ;  and  I  begin  to  think  it  is  so  indeed;  for  the 
idea  I  used  to  entertain  of  beggars,  was,  that  they 
were  poor,  decripped,  ragged,  helpless  beings,  des- 
titute of  the  means  of  supporting  themselves.  But 
how  wonderfully  times  have  changed ;  for  now  we 
see  hearty,  hale  men,  and  young  men  in  the  prime 
and  vigour  of  life,  clothed  in  the  finest  black  and 
blue  broad  cloth,  with  fur  hats,  boots,  spurs,  silk 
jackets,  silver  tipped  bridles  and  stirrups,  watches, 
&c.  &c.  turned  beggars — great  beggars.  They  tell 
us,  they  beg  for  the  sake  of  Christ  and  the  heathen  ,* 
but  fortunately  for  us  all,  these  fellows  cannot  keep 
the  cat  in  the  wallet  ,•  for  one  of  these  northern  beg- 
gars, not  long  since,  passed  throughjNorth  Carolina, 
and  being  asked  how  much  he  had  collected,  he  said 
about  two  thousand  dollars.  And  pray,  sir,  said  the 
inquirer,  what  per  centum  do  they  give  you  for  beg- 
ging? He  said  his  fees  would  come  to  about  four 
hundred  dollars.   And  pray,  sir,  are  you  a  preacher 


too  :  said  the  inquirer,  looking  gravely  in  his  face  ? 
O  yes  !  said  he,  I  attempt  to  preach  as  I  go — hang- 
ing down  his  head,  and  throwing  his  fine  broad 
cloth  legs  over  each  other,  and  twisting  his  watch 
key.  Yes,  and  I  think,  said  the  man,  a  great  many 
of  you  had  better  be  at  work,  than  going  about  in 
the  garb  of  a  preacher,  as  you  pretend,  begging  the 
poor  labourers*  for  their  money  ;  for  you  look  more 
like  a  doctor,  or  a  young  lawyer,  with  your  frizzled 
foretop  and  fine  clothing,  than  a  preacher.  And,  I 
suppose,  the  North  Carolinians  might  have  went  to 
hell  for  your  preaching,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the 
four  hundred  dollars  you  expected  to  get.  No,  he 
replied,  I  don't  know  that  I  should  have  come,  but 
the  society  hired  me  to  come,  and  I  must  live  some 
how;  and  you'll  give  something,  will  you  not?  No, 
that  I  wont,  said  the  man.  If  I  have  got  any  thing 
to  give,  I  will  give  if  to  our  old  preacher,  who  will 
preach  whether  we  pay  him  or  not ;  and  not  to  such 
fellows  as  you,  who  are  riding  about  dressed  up  in 
your  fine  broad  cloth,  hunting  a  rich  wife,  and  beg- 
ging money;  while  I  must  wear  my  old  tow  trowsers, 
and  work  in  the  hot  sun  to  maintain  such  fellows. 
No,  that  I  wont,  repeated  the  man.  O  yes  !  but 
you  can,  I  know,  and  will  give  me  something,  con- 
tinued the  beggar.     I  will  not,  was  the  reply. 

These  beggars  are  Jlke  hungry  mosquetoes — 
knock  them  off,  and  they  will  at  you  again,  and 
again,  until  they  suck  your  money,  if  possible.  Say, 
and  prove,  if  any  man  can,  that  there  is  one  trait  of 
true  apostolic  character  in  these  fellows,  and  the 
controversy  will  be  at  an  end.  Their  love  of  money 
has  betrayed  them,  as  it  did  Simon  Magus.  Sent  out 
by  missionary  boards,  and  not  by  Jesus  Christ,  they 
look  for  profit  by  fleecing  the  people ;  lugging  the 
cause  of  God,  and  the  care  of  the  heathen  in,  to  aid 
them  in  getting  money. 

Another  deep-laid  scheme  to  get  money,  is,  to 
draw  up  the  most  affecting  and  sympathetic  ad- 
dresses, to  publish  in  their  circulating  reports,  \b 


10 

which  the  very  boWels  of  antiquity  are  often  ran- 
sacked, to  get  something  that  may  touch  the  feelings 
of  the  community  ;  for  no  other  purpose,  but  to  get 
their  money.  A  combination  of  the  best  talents  are 
employed  to  form  one  of  these  Circulars,  which,  at 
best,  to  say  no  worse  of  them,  are  nothing  but  money 
speculations,  human  contrivances,  and  pompous  ex- 
pressions, to  deceive  the  hearts  of  the  simple,  and 
live  on  their  spoil. 

Some  thousands  have  been  sent  to  India*  to  sup- 
port the  lovers  of  money  there,  and  turn  that  land 
of  heathenism  into  a  Paradise  of  saints.  And  what 
has  been  done  there  ?  What  mighty  Works  hare  been 
wrought  by  all  the  hundred  of  thousands  of  dollars 
that  have  been  expended,  and  all  the  numerous  mis- 
sionaries that  have  been  sent,  from  this  and  other 
countries  !  I  have  heard,  as  with  the  trumpet's 
fame,  that  about  three  hundred  persons  have  been, 
at  last,  persuaded  to  renounce  cast  and  turn  Chris- 
tian, after  fifteen  or  twenty  years'  labour  ;  when  a 
single  Peter,  a  Paul,  a  Luther,  a  Whitfield,  a  Wes- 
ley, and  others,  being  sent  of  God,  have  done  more 
in  a  few  days  or  weeks,  without  the  aid  of  self- 
created  societies,  and  monied  institutions,  and  nume- 
rous beggars  not  sanctioned  by  the  word  of  God, 
nor  found  in  the  pages  of  the  New  Testament.  As 
the  churches  in  this  country  are  now  going  on,  they 
will  soon  be  no  better  than  the  church  of  Rome,  and 
the  High  Church  of  England;  for  money  and  titles 
have  always  been  the  object  of  Popes  and  Popish 
priests,  and  also  of  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of 
England,  who  once  had  the  command  of  sixteen 
thousand  weight  of  tobacco,  annually,  in  this  coun- 
try, to  turn  into  money.  Titles  and  money  have 
always  corrupted  the  ministry,  and  they  have  al- 
ready began  to  disgrace  it  in  North  Carolina.  The 
same  causes  will  always  produce  like  effects ;  and 
let  the  true  children  of  God  watch  and  beware. 

But  to  quiet  our  fears,  and  make  us  tamely  ae- 
quiesce,  while  the  "  reverend"  clergy  cut  the  strings 


11 

of  our  purses,  and  put  the  yoke  of  tyranny  snug  on 
our  necks,  they  tell  us  the  mind  of  God  is  with  his 
people.  If  they  were  to  tell  me  the  mind  of  the 
devil  was  with  many  in  this  day,  who  profess  to  be 
his  servants,  I  could  readily  believe  it.  Can  the 
mind  of  God  be,  w  here  the  whole  soul  is  engaged 
in  schemes  to  get  money  ! !  Look  and  see,  if  you 
find  such  a  spirit  with  the  prophets,  John  the  Bap- 
tist, and  the  apostles.  No,  indeed  !  But  be  still, 
say  they  j  this  is  the  way  God  is  about  to  usher  in 
the  glorious  millennium.  Rather,  I  say,  it  is  the  way 
that  the  devil  will  soon  triumph  over  all  true  reli- 
gion, and  aggrandize  his  transformed  ministers, 
and  make  them  pensioners  of  state.  Money  atid  edu- 
cation are  power ;  and  in  the  management  of  skillful 
hands,  great  effects  may,  in  a  short  time,  be  pro- 
duced. 

Can  one  instance  be  shown,  from  the  first  of  Ge- 
nesis to  the  last  of  the  Revelation,  where  God  has 
ever  made.money  a  means  of  spreading  his  religion  ? 
Has  it  not  been  done  by  humble  and  unaustentatious 
persons,  specially  chosen  of  God,  without  any  call 
for  money  ?  Look  at  a  Jonah,  Peter,  Paul,  and  Bar- 
nabas, all  sent  on  special  missions.  We  hear  no- 
thing of  money  or  backing  societies,  before  they  can 
go :  but  now  thousands  roust  be  had  on  hand,  and 
good  promises  for  more  of  the  precious  stuff,  before 
our  missionaries  can  move  a  peg.  And  I  leave  the 
reader  to  judge,  what  side  such  missionaries  belong 
to. 

But  it  seems  that  the  mind  of  God  is  not  always 
with  his  people,  much  less,  with  those  that  call  them- 
selves his  people,  but  are  in  reality  the  devil's  peo- 
ple ;  or  if  the  devil  does  not  personally  preside  in  the 
chair  as  president,  yet  he  votes  in  the  voters,  and 
that  is  as  good,  and  much  better ;  because,  he  acts 
in  the  back  ground,  unsuspected ;  and  you  shall  see 
who  turns  the  wheel. 

Was  the  mind  of  God  with  the  great  Baptist  As- 
sociation of  Virginia,  when  they  created  Samuel 


IS 

Harris  Apostle  of  Virginia  ?  Did  not  the  devil  turn 
the  wheel  there  ?  We  laugh  at  the  folly  now,  of  that 
set  of  wise  ministers  ,•  and  so  will  posterity,  in  years 
to  come,  at  all  the  unscriptural  works  of  darkness 
now  going  on,  where  the  devil  turns  the  wheel. 
And  who  can  help  thinking  the  devil  turns  the 
wheel,  where  money  is  hut  too  plainly  seen  to  be 
the  object  of  each  and  every  movement. 

Was  the  mind  of  God  with  his  church  and  people 
of  Israel,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Horeb,  when  the  peo- 
ple said  to  that  great  saint,  Aaron :  «'  Come  make 
us  gods  to  go  before  us  into  Egypt ;  for  as  for  this 
Moses,  we  wist  not  what  has  become  of  him  :" — and 
gave  him  their  gold,  jewels  and  bracelets,  of  which 
he  made  the  idol  calt'j  and  kicked  up  such  a  mighty 
dust,  dancing  around  the  god  of  their  own  making. 

Was  the  mind  of  God  with  his  people,  when  Jero- 
boam made  the  two  golden  calves,  and  set  one  in 
Dan  and  the  other  in  Bethel,  and  said,  «*  these  are 
thy  gods  0  Israel  l"  Rather,  does  it  nofc  show  the 
consequences  of  the  Church  of  God  being  connected 
with  the  great  men  of  this  world  ;  for  then  the  devil 
will  be  sure  to  turn  the  wheel.  And  while  our  Mis- 
sionary, bible,  and  tract  societies,  and  theological 
schools,  are  connected  with  the  men  of  this  world, 
the  devil  is  sure  to  turn  the  wheel,  and  give  the 
casting  vote  in  his  favour. 

Was  the  mind  of  God  with  the  church  at  Corinth, 
when  they  perverted  the  right  use  of  the  Lord's 
supper  ? 

Was  the  mind  of  God  with  the  church  of  Rome, 
when  they  began  to  create  titles,  bishops,  cardinals, 
arch-bishops,  universal  bishop,  sovereign  pontiff, 
Christ's  vicar,  prince  of  the  apostles,  &c.  &e. — 
These  measures  were  as  innocent,  I  conceive,  in 
their  first  appearance,  as  presidents,  vice-presi- 
dents, corresponding  secretaries,  recording  secreta- 
ries, board  of  directors,  &e.  which  are  all  unscrip- 
tural titles,  names  and  offices,  unbecoming  God's 
people. 


13 

And  where  did  these  titles  lead  to  in  the  end  : 
Why  they  came  up  to  our  lord  god  the  Pope,  so- 
vereign Pontiff*  over  the  whole  world  ;  having  the 
keys  of  heaven,  hell,  and  purgatory  ;  and  whoever 
would  go  in,  must  pay  toll  to  his  holiness  the  Pope, 
and  bow  to  what  he  thought  right,  or  enter  the  hell- 
ish inquisition,  and  suffer  death  in  the  most  horrid 
forms.  All  this  was  brought  about  by  getting  off 
gospel  ground,  under  the  show  of  religion,  out  of  the 
warrant  of  the  New  Testament.  Shall  we  not  then 
take  care  of  those  innocent  things  you  call  titles,  the 
corrupters  of  the  Church  of  God.  These  arc  the 
scorpians  that  have  stings  in  their  tails,  and  have 
stricken  thousands  to  ruin.  Oh  ye  sons  of  Columbia ! 
stand  up  and  look  round  yourselves  ',  and  behold 
what  strides  are  making  by  an  ever-busy  clergy,  to 
forge  the  chains  of  tyranny  for  your  bodies  and  con- 
sciences !  Be  alarmed,  before  your  necks  are  in  the 
yoke — for  these  things  must  come  in  side-ways,  or 
as  an  entering  wedge;  and  one  step  off  from  gospel 
ground,  gives  room  for  another,  until  death  is  in  the 
pot,  and  the  devil  at  the  wheel. 

Was  the  mind  of  God  with  his  people,  when  the 
dissenting  clergy  from  popery  in  England,  ap- 
pointed king  Henry  head  of  the  Church,  and  parlia- 
ment the  guardians  of  its  affairs  ! !  See  what  fol- 
lowed :  persecution,  religious  taxation,  fines  and 
imprisonment  throughout  England — the  clergy 
prompting  those  in  power,  to  do  these  things  for 
their  own  gain.  Surely  the  devil  turned  the  wheel, 
and  voted  in  the  voters.  And  does  it  not  show  us, 
as  a  beacon,  on  our  own  coast,  how  we  should  en- 
deavour to  keep  the  Church  apart  from  any  influence 
of  the  men  of  this  world  ;  for  they  know  not  the 
things  of  the  spirit;  and  hence  their  influence  is 
always  bad.  But  the  clergy  want  to  get  hold  of 
their  fat  purses,  and  this  is  the  way  they  have  taken 
to  do  it:  to  build  a  sort  of  National  Church,  and  let 
them  come  into  it  for  pay ;  having  a  fixed  price  for 
members,  directors,  and  presidents  for  life  ;  and  so 

B 


14 

they  make  a  sort  of  half- brothers  of  the  governors 
and  rich  men  of  this  world. 

As  for  God's  putting  it  in  the  hearts  of  his  people 
to  go  this  \va}r  to  work  to  convert  the  world,  it  is 
what  I  cannot  yet  believe.  .  For  God  cannot  change, 
nor  do  I  think  he  will  change  his  plan  of  carrying 
on  his  work  ; — and  what  monied  institutions  and  so- 
cieties do  we  find,  supporting  the  prophets  among 
the  Jews  ;-—  or  what  self-created  bodies  for  obtaining 
money,  backed  the  apostles,  and  first  preachers  of 
the  gf.spel  ?.  Let  some  example,  or  authority,  be 
shown  from  the  word  of  God,  if  it  can  be.  The  au- 
thority of  mm  will  not  answer  for  me,  in  a  business 
of  such  importance.  Give  me — thus  saith  the  Lord, 
or  else  give  up  the  point. 

Did  monied  societies  support  the  Reformers  ?  No; 
they  hazarded  all,  and  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things 
for  the  sake  of  Christ.  Hence  we  see,  that  this  mo- 
dern practice  of  spreading  religion  by  means  of 
money,  and  monied  societies,  is  neither  sanctioned 
by  the  word  of  God,  nor  the  example  of  the  pro- 
phets, the  apostles*  or  the  reformers ;  but  well  agrees 
with  the  Church  of  Rome,  and  high  Church  of  En- 
gland. The  cry  of  money,  money,  is  heard  through- 
out the  Church  of  Rome,  from  the  pope  to  the  friar; 
and  in  the  Church  of  England,  from  the  bishop  down 
to  the  warden  constable. 

Has  God,  after  four  thousand  years,  changed  his 
plan  of  carrying  on  his  work?  Or  has  He  lately 
seen  that  monied  institutions  are  necessary  means 
for  converting  the  world  ?  Certainly  not,  but  the 
Lord's  way  of  carrying  on  his  work,  does  not  suit 
men  of  high  minds,  who  want  to  be  gods  themselves, 
and  wrest  from  his  hands  the  power  of  making 
christians  in  bis  own  way  ;  and  prescribe  paths  for 
Jehovah  to  walk  in  that  may  please  themselves,  and 
the  men  of  this  world.  Where,  in  all  the  Scriptures, 
shall  we -find  any  self-created  societies,  and  monied 
institutions,  to  advance  the  cause  of  true  religion  ! 
And  if  they  cannot  be  found  there,  a  man  must  be 
blind  not  to  see  that  they  are  mere   human  inven- 


15 

(ions  ;  and  that  the  devil  is  turning  the  wheel  ;  and 
will  only  corrupt  the  Church,  and  make  mankind 
more  degenerate  and  wicked. 

Monied  institutions  have  supported  the  church  of 
Rome,  and  high  church  of  England,  in  their  thirst 
for  aggrandizement,  and  to  lord  it  over  the  con- 
sciences of  men.  But  dissenters,  in  no  age,  until 
oflate,  or  ahout  a  century,  have  needed  any  such 
support.  As  for  the  Gospel,  one  of  its  chief  glories 
is,  that  it  stands  on  the  arm  of  Omnipotence,  and 
commends  itself  to  the  consciences  of  men — making 
its  way  through  the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  in  spite 
of  all  opposition.  Though  the  heathen  rage,  and 
kings,  and  governors,  and  rulers  of  this  world,  have 
stood  up  against  the  Gospel  and  God's  anointed, 
and  have  employed  prisons,  gibbets,  flames,  and 
death,  in  all  their  torturing  forms,  yet  have  they  not 
prevailed. 

And  how  is  it,  that  the  rulers  of  this  world,  and  the 
rich,  and  noble  of  the  earth,  who  have  in  all  ages 
opposed  the  Gospel,  and  voted  against  it,  have  now 
become  its  votaries  and  supporters  ! !  I  would  as 
soon  believe  that  the  devil  is  turned  a  saint  at  last, 
as  to  believe  this  thing — that  human  nature  should 
be  so  changed  without  a  work  of  grace  upon  the 
heart.  The  troth  lies  here ;  the  men  of  this  world 
have  always  been  willing  to  support  that  which  was 
called  Gospel,  or  a  form  of  religion,  but  not  the 
thing  itself;  for  that  they  hate,  and  have  in  all  ages 
of  the  world.  To  support  the  mere  form  of  religion, 
or  a  false  religion,  corrupt  men  have  always  been 
ready  enough.  Witness  their  readiness  to  support 
idolatry — to  support  the  See  of  Rome — the  Cru- 
sades! the  Pagan — Mahometan,  and  all  such  false 
and  formal  religions  !  Witness  how  zealous  the 
Pharisees  were  to  support  their  forms  of  error,  and 
the  traditions  of  the  elders,  at  the  exgence  of  the 
blood  of  Christ  and  his  apostles  !  Witness  the  Pagan 
emperors,  putting  hundreds  of  thousands  to  death, 
to  support  their  absurd  Paganism  !  Witness  the 
high  church  of  England,  and  church  of  Rome,  de- 


16 

stroking  and  persecuting  the  most  pious  in  their 
borders,  to  support  a  form  of  godliness  of  their  own 
invention,  suited  to  the  taste  of  corrupt  lords,  dukes, 
kings,  queens,  and  emperors !  Can  I,  with  all  these 
truths  before  me,  and  many  more,  believe  that  the 
pompous  proceedings,  and  monied  schemes  of  the 
present  day,  are  of  God  ! !  It  is  only  because  the 
devil  is  in  all  these  schemes  and  inventions,  that  his 
children  support  them,  and  honour  them  with  their 
presence  and  approbation.  This  one  circumstance 
is  sufficient  to  convince  me  that  these  great  works 
are  not  of  God,  and  will  only  prove  an  injury  to  the 
cause  of  true  religion. 

It  is  certain,  that  all  the  pomp  and  show  we  now 
see,  for  promoting  the  Lord's  work,  will  at  last  be 
brought  to  naught ;  because  it  is  not  the  way  of 
God's  choosing.  And  he  will  clear  all  this  rubbish 
away,  and  afterwards  work  in  his  own  way,  and  by 
instruments  of  his  own  choice.  For  our  Lord 
saith,  «  marvel  not  that  the  world  hate  you  ;  for  you 
know  it  hated  me  before  it  hated  you.  It  hateth  me, 
because  I  testify  the  deeds  thereof  are  evil."  What 
then  !  do  natural  men  support  him  and  his  cause, 
when  they  have  hated  him  and  his  cause  in  all  ages  ? 
How  inconsistent  in  itself!  It  is  supporting  the 
thing  in  appearance  only,  or  that  which  has  a  show 
pi"  the  cause  of  Christ,  but  which,  in  r<  ality,  is  the 
devil's  cause  in  masquerade.  And  this  has  been  the 
manner  of  the  devil,  from  the  days  of  Cain,  dowii  to 
Constantiue  the  Great ;  to  set  up  a  form  of  religion, 
in  opposition  to  the  true  religion  by  grace  and  faith, 
and  maintain  it  in  the  world,  by  men  of  this  world  ; 
condemning,  killing,  and  destroying,  by  athousand 
infernal  tortures,  ail  the  children  of  God  that  oppose 
it.  But,  in  the  days  of  C«»nstantine,  he  seems  to 
have  come  to  his  senses  ;  and,  as  if  he  saw,  that  the 
massacre  of  millions  could  not  stop  the  progress  of 
the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  ;  or,  as  if  gorged  with 
blood,  op  satisfied  with  cruelty,  he  comes  to  a  cessa- 
sion  of  arms,  all  on  a  sudden;  and  sits  still,  as  an 
idle  spectator,  for  a  good  while.     During  this  time, 


17 

Constantino  repeals  all  persecuting  laws,  and  then 
establishes  religion  by  law  j  honouring  the  ministers 
of  the  Gospel — giving  them  salaries,  and  making 
every  thing  in  religion  grand,  rich  and  pompous 

But  how  soon  does  the  devil  improve  on  this 
plan,  and  turn  all  into  show  and  form  again  ; — and 
then  follows  persecution  of  the  saints  ,•  which  has 
shown  itself  more  or  less  in  every  country  throughout 
Christendom.  In  England,  though  they  cast  off" the 
cruel  yoke  of  Popery,  yet  they  set  up  the  idol  of 
uniformity;  manifestingthe  same  persecuting  spirit, 
and  contending,  by  kings,  queens,  lords  of  parlia- 
ment, magistrates,  and  constables,  for  the  support 
of  a  form  of  godliness,  and  will- worship ;  at  the 
same  time,  opposing  the  Gospel  in  its  purity  and 
simplicity;  and  fining  and  imprtteoning  those  who 
adhered  to  it.  How  dangerous  then  is  a  formftf  re- 
ligion, armed  with  the  civil  power  !  and  how  dan- 
gerous to  trust  a  body  of  learned  and  monied  clergy, 
with  any  kind  of  power.  Our  fathers  who  composed 
the  convention  to  form  the  Contitution  of  the  State 
of  North  Carolina,  knew  the  danger  of  these  men  ; 
therefore,  inserted  an  article  that  no  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  having  the  cure  of  souls,  should  have  a  seat 
in  either  house  of  the  Legislature.  They  had  tasted 
the  gall  and  venom  of  this  tribe  of  money-getting 
characters,  and  therefore,  guarded  against  them  in 
that  article.  And  if  it  were  not  for  this  article,  we 
should  see  them  electioneering,  this  way  and  that 
way,  to  get  into  the  Legislature.  And  could  they 
once  obtain  an  ascendency  in  the  government,  they 
would  ride  rough-shod  over  the  consciences  and  pro- 
perty of  the  people,  like  all  other  tyrants.  There 
would  be  no  danger  in  letting  the  good  become  mem- 
bers, but  to  keep  out  the  bad  and  designing,  our  fa- 
thers thought  best  to  keep  all  out — and  they  were 
right. 

It  has  been  said,  that  money  and  education  are 

power.     And  does  not  money  and  education  fill  the 

offices  of  state  ?   Does  not  money  and  education  levy 

war,  and  carry  it  on?     What  would  America  have 

B   2 


18 

done  in  the  revolution,  had  it  not  been  For  her  wise 
counsellors,  continental  money,  and  the  silver  crowns 
of  France  !  And  what  would  the  missionary  socie- 
ties do  for  runners  and  beggars,  if  it  were  not  for 
money  !  What  would  the  Pope  of  Rome  have  done 
for  priests  to  carry  about  his  indulgences  and  par- 
dons to  sell,  had  it  not  been  for  money,  a  part  of 
which  went  to  pay  the  priests  for  their  trouble,  and 
the  balance  was  for  the  Pope  to  carry  on  his  schemes. 
It  is  just  so  with  many  of  our  modern  priests  :  money 
causes  them  to  go  about ;  a  part  of  what  they  get 
they  have  for  begging;  and  the  balance  is  for  the 
Board  of  Directors  to  carry  on  their  plans  and 
■schemes.  And  what  they  will  do  in  the  end,  time 
only  can  reveal.  We  see  them  now  making  mighty 
strides  in  every  pUrt  of  the  union,  to  get  hold  of 
money,  and  what  new  tricks  and  schemes  are  to  be 
played  under  the  mask  of  religious  benevolence  to 
attain  something  out  of  view,  and  not  heretofore 
known  in  the  devil's  politics,  is  left  wholly  to  conjec- 
ture. 

I  have  been  told  of  late,  the  Baptists  were  like 
Israel  without  a  king.  Now  the  Israelites  desired 
'Samuel  to  ask  the  Lord  to  give  them  a  king  that 
they  might  be  like  the  nations  around  them,  and  have 
a  great  man  to  fight  their  battles  and  go  in  and  out 
before  them,  but  some  of  our  modern  Baptists  are 
not  so  condescending  to  God  as  Israel  was,  to  ask  of 
him  a  great  man,  or  men  to  go  before  them  ;  or 
agreeably  to  the  words  of  Christ,  "  pray  to  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest  to  send  out  more  labourers  into  his 
vineyard;''  but  to  be  like  the  Church  of  England, 
and  the  Presbyterians  around  them,  they  have 
without  any  authority  from  the  Lord,  set  up  a  priest- 
ly polishing  machine  at  head  quarters,  to  polish 
over  young  men,  and  make  great  ministers  of  them, 
to  fight  their  battles  and  go  in  and  out  before  them. 
Are  they  afraid  to  trust  their  cause  with  God  any 
longer,  and  so  have  rejected  him  after  enjoying  his 
protection  such  a  length  of  time,  and  will  they  now 
depend  on  an  arm  of  flesh  ? 


X 


19 

The  church  of  Rome,  and  other  churches,  tried 
the  experiment  of  making  great  learned  divines, 
and  soon  these  great  divines,  bishops,  parsons,  cu- 
rates and  friars,  must  have  great  salaries,  and  be 
maintained  in  high  dignity  by  the  people.  And  so 
it  will  be  with  these  young  doctors  from  head  quar- 
ters, after  going  through  the  polishing  machine  ; 
for,  work  they  cannot,  though  they  will  not  be 
ashamed  to  beg,  since  it  has  become  fashionable  for 
divines  in  broad  cloth  to  follow  this  trade.  1  should 
like  to  know  how  many  we  have  among  us  that 
would  rather  go  to  doctor  Greatman  for  instruction, 
than  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  would  prefer  to  show  them- 
selves approved  men  for  talents  and  learning,  than 
study  to  show  themselves  approved  of  God  for  a  holy, 
pious,  humble  life  ;  or  diligence  in  the  ministry, 
knowledge  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  having  their  mi- 
nistry written  on  the  tables  of  many  hearts — by  the 
power  of  the  spirit  of  God  attending  their  unpolish- 
ed discourses,  to  the  salvation  of  men  ! 

If  what  I  hear  be  true,  that  there  are  about  twelve 
thousand  in  all  the  various  polishing  machines  in 
this  country,  preparing  themselves  to  hunt  fortunes, 
live  without  work,  and  to  please  the  world,  and  these 
like  devouring  locusts,  are  soon  to  be  let  loose,  fly- 
ing to  the  most  populous  towns  and  cities,  and  look- 
ing about  in  every  hole  and  corner  of  the  union, 
where  the  fattest  purse  is  to  be  had  ;  in  order  to 
live  on  the  labours  of  others,  in  pomp  and  style — for 
one,  I  pray,  they  may  keep  away  from  North  Caro- 
lina; for  we  have  fortune  hunters  and  beggars 
enough  already,  who  produce  disputes,  jars  and  dis- 
cord among  brethren  of  the  same  church,  if  we  re- 
fuse to  give,  and  are  unwilling  to  be  stripped  of  our 
hard  earnings ;  while  our  evcry-day,  but  faithful 
and  humble  ministers,  are  neglected,  and  can 
scarcely  procure  decent  clothing,  and  provide  the 
necessaries  of  life  for  themselves  and  families. 

But  we  are  told  by  some  of  our  doctors  and  reve- 
rends, that  they  do  not  undertake  to  make  ministers 
out  of  any  sort  of  men ; — that  they  do  not  think  to 


§0 

change  the  heart,  or  call  any  one  to  the  ministry. 
This,  they  let  us  know,  they  leave  for  God  to  do  ; 
while  their  machine  is  for  giving  the  last  polish' — the 
finishing  touch  to  their  qualifications  ;  which  opera- 
tion, is  considered  far  superior,  to  enable  them  to 
please  men,  than  any  thing  God  has  done  to  them, 
or  can  be  expected  to  do.  Now,  in  the  name  of  the 
best  of  causes,  and  for  its  sake,  I  ask  them,  to  give 
me  example  or  precept  from  the  word  of  God,  or 
show  any  of  the  prophets,  John  the  Baptist,  or  any 
of  the  apostles,  who,  after  being  called  of  God  to 
their  respective  missions,  that  ever  went  to  school, 
or  to  study  under  Dr.  Greatman,  in  order  to  learn 
how  to  preach,  or  what  to  preaeh!  No  example  or 
precept  from  the  word  of  God,  can  be  produced  in 
support  of  such  a  practice  ;  and  it  is  evident,  that 
these  theological  schools,  or  machines  for  polishing 
ministers,  are  the  inventions  of  the  devil,  who  is 
working  in  the  back  ground,  to  undermine  the 
Church  of  God.  and  corrupt  the  ministry  and  society 
in  general,  and  fill  the  world  with  oppression, 
wretchedness,  and  misery. 

Look,  and  see,  among  the  prophets  and  apostles, 
whether  the  Lord  had  such  respect  to  education  and 
learning!  What  sort  of  men  did  he  choose,  for  the 
most  part,  to  preach  his  gospel  ?  and  what  sort  of 
men  has  he  chosen,  in  all  ages  of  the  Church,  to  de- 
clare his  counsel  unto  men  ?  Peter,  John,  and  all  the 
apostles,  Paul  excepted,  were  unlearned  and  unlet- 
tered men  ;  yet,  Christ  made  this  no  bar,  hindrance, 
or  disqualification,  to  their  being  his  apostles  ;  and 
generally,  in  all  ages  of  the  Church,  God  has  chosen 
the  poor  and  unlearned  to  preach  his  word ;  and 
made  them  mighty,  through  grace,  to  the  pulling 
down  of  the  stroitg  holds  of  satan's  kingdom  ;  in 
order,  that  the  power  might  be  of  God,  and  not  of 
men.  This  cannot  be  denied  ;  yet  our  doctors  of 
divinity  are  trying  to  pervert  the  order  of  God,  or 
help  him  to  finish  the  work  of  qualifying  ministers. 
Hear  Paul's  observations  on  ministers,  &c.  '«  God 
hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world,  to   con- 


Si 

found  the  wise  ;  and  the  weak  things  of  the  world, 
the  base,  the  despised,  and  things  which  are  not, 
hath  God  chosen:"  for  what?  that  no  Jlesh  should 
glory  in  his  presence.  And  these  observations  agree 
Mill  God's  conduct  in  the  choic  of  ministers  in  all 
ages,  except  in  a  few  cases.  But  u*ir  wise  and  learn- 
ed doctors,  have  found  out  a  mo;  e  excellent  way, 
they  think,  than  God'3  way  ; — they  are  going  to  in- 
struct and  polish  numerous  young  men  for  the  min- 
istry. They  may  ruin  them,  but  they  cannot  better 
them,  unless  it  be  to  please  men.  To  better  them, 
to  please  God  or  profit  his  church  and  people,  they 
cannot.  For  preaching  is  a  gift — the  gift  of  God; 
and  what  doctors  of  divinity  are  not  able  to  give. 

I  do  not  think  myself  guilty  of  a  breach  of  reli- 
gious charity,  in  spying,  that  these  polishing  ma- 
chines, lately  established  fu*  qualifying  young  men 
to  preach,  are  of  the  devil,  and  from  high-minded 
tnen,  who  want  to  maintain  their  cause  by  human 
strength,  and  an  arm  of  flesh.  These  high-minded 
doctors  seem,  indeed,  to  me,  like  some  men,  who 
dislike  their  Maker's  work,  in  making  the  handsome 
and  elegant  horse.  Say  some,  his  ears  are  too 
long — they  must  be  cropt ; — say  others,  his  tail 
hangs  too  much  down, — he  must  be  nicked  before  he 
can  piease  us:  and  to  work  they  go,  to  better  the 
Creator's  work,  or  to  make  a  horse  to  their  own 
liking.  Just  so  with  our  learned  doctors  :  after 
God  has  converted  and  called  a  poor  young  man  to 
the  ministry,  and  furnished  him  with  every  needful 
qualiiicati  >n,  and  directed  him  to  go  and  preach  his 
gospel,  it  will  not  answer — he  does  not  please  the 
doctors — he  does  not  speak  grammar,  nor  is  he  elo- 
quent enough  to  command  the  respect  of  the  people. 
He  is  not  even  polite  in  his  manners,  and  does  not 
know  h(fw  to  conduct  himself  properly  in  genteel 
company.  He  must  be  altered  before  he  will  answer 
for  a  preacher,  or  he  able  to  please  the  people,  and 
obtain  a  salary.  Thus  the  proud  and  high  minded 
of  this  world,  have,  in  all  ages,  set  at  naught  God's 
ministers,  and  have  heaped  up  to  themselves  teach*- 


ers,  having  itching  ears,  who  have  sounded  forth 
their  own  praise,  and  had  an  eye  to  the  purse. 

But  God's  ministers  seek  not  to  go  forth  in  the 
excellency  of  speech,  and  of  man's  wisdom  ;  for 
they  know  that  the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolish- 
ness with  God,  and  they  wish  to  speak  as  of  the 
ability  which  God  giveth  them.  But  something  of 
the  hands  of  man  must  be  on  ministers  in  this  day, 
before  they  can  preach  to  please  ;  and  to  work  doc- 
tors go,  to  make  them  more  than  God  has  thought 
proper  to  do.  Thus  they  become  deformed  and  dis- 
figured ;  first,  by  cropping  their  long  ears  of  hu- 
mility in  dress  and  manners,  and  giving  them  a 
proud,  dressy  carriage,  and  the  polite  manners  of  a 
young  lawyer — which  in  a  minister  of  the  humble 
Jesus,  is  more  offensive  to  the  pious,  than  the 
vilest  reptile.  Secondly,  they  learn  them  to  run 
straight  for  the  purse  ;  and,  where  the  most  money 
and  the  largest  salaries  are  to  be  got.  Thirdly,  they 
learn  them  to  speak  in  high  flown  words,  and  pom- 
pous expressions,  so  that  the  poor  and  unlearned 
are  not  able  to  understand  them;  and  thus  they  be- 
come as  barbarians  to  them  that  hear.  Fourthly, 
they  are  made  to  despise  the  poor,  of  which  class 
they  once  were,  before  made  gentlemen,  fortune- 
hunters,  &c.  Fifthly,  all  equality  among  ministers 
is  destroyed  ;  and,  at  length,  none  must  be  allowed 
to  preach  at  all,  unless  they  are  learned  men  :  and 
thus  the  apostles  will  be  put  in  the  back  ground,  as 
well  as  most  of  God's  ministers,  and  the  devil  will 
hear  the  chief  sway  in  all  the  churches.  Then,  all 
who  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus,  will  suffer  persecu- 
tion, as  in  former  times;  for,  unregenerate  and  high 
minded  priests,  have  been  the  greatest  persecutors 
of  the  righteous  in  every  age  of  the  world. 

When  doctors  and  reverends  saunter,  and  hanker 
about  state  legislators,  members  of  congress,  and 
fawn  on  governors,  and  chief  men  of  state,  cringing 
and  begging,  it  is  time  for  Americans  to  look  out. 
They  are  not  walking  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Apos- 
tles, but  are  seeking  their  own  ends ;  and  are  endea- 


S3 

vouring  to  bring  together  church  and  state.  Nay, 
it  seems,  this  unnatural  connexion  is  now  begun,  if 
we  look  at  the  minutes  of  the  Missionary,  Tract, 
Bible  and  Theological  Education  Societies,  and  see 
whose  names  are  there  enrolled  as  donors,  officers, 
&c.  &c. 

The  Emperor  Constantine,  and  his  men  of  state, 
with  the  clergy's  juggling  together,  produced  the 
devil  in  the  end,  though  all  was  fair  weather  at  first, 
as  it  is  now  among  us.  But  storms  gathered,  and 
at  length  burst  forth  in  fury  and  destruction  to  the 
people  of  God.  The  kings  of  England,  parliament, 
and  the  clergy,  began  to  play  into  each  others  hands — 
and  what  has  been  the  effect  ?  Let  us  beware  of 
new  and  unseriptural  projects. — Look  at  Peter  the 
Hermit,  in  rags,  running  bare-foot  from  city  to  city, 
preaching  up  the  crusades,  t)r  holy  wars  as  they 
were  termed — drawing  kingdoms  into  this  popular 
scheme,  and  causing  the  destruction  of  about  thir- 
teen thousand  lives  in  this  foolish  new  project. 
"What  destruction  is  witnessed,  when  church  and 
state  meet  together  !  Look  at  the  priests  in  France, 
with  crucifixes  in  their  hands,  encouraging  the 
blood-thirsty  Catholics  in  the  murder  of  sixty  thou- 
sand Protestants  in  a  night !  Look  at  the**  Pope  of 
RoHlie,  sending  his  priests  to  Baptise  at  the  point  of 
the  sword  ;  and,  because  the  Welehmen  refused, 
slaughtered  them  by  thousands!  Look  at  king 
George,  sending  his  learned  priests  into  this  coun- 
try, and  fixing  a  salary  on  them  of  sixteen  thousand 
pounds  of  tobacco  a  year,  to  maintain  them  in  idle- 
ness, luxury  and  pride  !  Look  at  the  whippings  and 
imprisonings  of  the  Baptists,  in  Virginia,  and  other 
states,  by  means  of  these  same  well  fed  priests! 
Money  and  learning  out  of  their  proper  place,  or 
improperly  used,  corrupt  the  church  and  ministry  of 
God.  And  these  corrupting  societies  overturn  any 
government,  however  strong  its  foundation  may  be 
at  first  laid.  Because,  there  is  a  combination^  ta- 
lents, interest  and  party  spirit ;  which  if  strong 
enough,  will  prevail  over  all  impediments,  destroy 


liberty  of  conscience,  establish  its  own  power,  and 
fill  the  land  with  oppression,  wretchedness  and  mi- 
sery. Money  is  a  good  thing — education  is  a  good 
thing — power  is  a  good  thing — iaw  is  a  good  thing— 
and  death  is  a  go->d  thing — hot.  they  must  all  stand 
in  their  proper  nlac^ — be  us»d  by  a  proper  hand —  j 
regulated  by  a  right  spirit,  and  for  a  right  end  ;  else  j 
they  become  scourges  of  the  worst  kind  to  human 
beings. 

|C?"  It  is  deemed  proper  to  state,  that  the  author  of  I 
the  foregoing  pages  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Churchy  \ 
in  JVorth  Carolina,  in  very  respectable  standing.     This 
statement,  however,  is  made,  without  the  knowledge  or  i 
eonsent  of  the  writer. 


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